Hello. I am Haru-Baeum Instructor Kim Tae-young, bringing you the joy of learning every day.
Former) Full-time instructor for HSK Levels 4 and 5 at Busan Seomyeon Confucius Institute Chinese Language Education Center
Former) Interpreter for the Korea-China Game Industry Exchange Meeting hosted by the Korea Game Industry Association and the Korea Copyright Commission
Former) Pukyong National University COVID-19 Emergency Response Team Chinese Translator/Interpreter
Former) Ranked 2nd most popular expert in the Naver eXpert Chinese category
Pres.) Operating Haru-Baeum Chinese Language Lab
This is the schedule from my days teaching at the academy, a time filled with youthful ambition and passion. They were good times, but back then, I didn't know how to take care of myself, and I nearly collapsed several times during lectures due to overwork.
Whenever I felt my consciousness fading for a moment, I would lean against the chalkboard as if I were writing on it. Part of it was because I didn't want the students to feel anxious, but I was also grateful to be able to lecture like this. I endured it by thinking that it was only natural to be tired and exhausted since my lectures were so well-loved.
This is a photo from the conversation class at that time. In the conversation class, I taught in a way that encouraged a lot of speaking, and the students started bringing me drinks from the second day after attending the first class. Their passion fired me up even more. There was even a time when we received a complaint because my voice and the students' voices were echoing into other classrooms. At that moment, I thought, "Ah, I'm doing a great job," and put even more heat into the lecture.
It was a course where we watched dramas together, practiced speaking, and learned the process of translating Chinese into Korean. Since it was a class I really wanted to teach, it was held as a special weekend lecture without a tuition fee, and unexpectedly, many people showed up. There weren't enough seats in the designated classroom, so we had no choice but to arrange extra chairs to make space. Although they aren't visible, there were people sitting on chairs at the back of the room to listen to the lecture, and I felt so bad for them. So, I spoke with the director and moved the class to a larger room starting from the next session. Even after moving, we had to create more spots than the original capacity, but I was relieved that we could at least provide desks. It was such an enjoyable class.
I remember how much the students' reviews gave me strength when I was teaching. Students who were with me from Conversation Level 1 to HSK wrote down their stories, and thanks to their sincerity, I think I was able to keep my sense of gratitude and always strive to deliver better lectures.
Currently, I am working in a small office, creating my own textbooks, providing private Chinese tutoring, and developing various courses to teach Chinese.
"Join a company and live a stable life." I received a lot of realistic advice like this, but
I want to do this work. I must do this work. Therefore, I will do this work.
As I handwrite my thoughts on what 'my own lecture' should be, film my lectures to observe myself, and sit in the quiet lab after finishing a session to enjoy a moment of solitude, I prepare for the next lecture with the belief that I can deliver even better content and better teaching with improved materials.
I will not give up on the Chinese proficiency level that the student aims to reach.
If it is content that the student must know, I will stay with them, repeating it over and over again until they can do it.
If a student is anxious about whether they can succeed, I will reassure them through both the process and the results.
Thank you.
